Hawaii SHIP

The Hawaii SHIP is the State Health Insurance Assistance Program. Our volunteers provide free and unbiased Medicare counseling and educational presentations to Medicare beneficiaries and their family members.

Hawaii SHIP is housed under the Hawaii State Department of Health’s Executive Office on Aging, and is funded by a grant from the Administration for Community Living.

 SHIP volunteers serve the community in many ways, including one-on-one counseling, exhibiting information at fairs, giving educational presentations and assisting with administrative tasks. Most of our volunteers are Medicare beneficiaries or have a loved one who is a Medicare beneficiary, and thus, interested in learning about Medicare to assist others in the community. Hawaii SHIP does not require that volunteer applicants be experts on Medicare or have experience working with older adults. Volunteer training will be provided based on the role that best fits your interests and skill-set. Some volunteers grow into new roles over time as they gain more experience and knowledge about Medicare and other related health options.

Certified volunteers are essential to the success of the SHIP program. Without the commitment and dedication of SHIP volunteers, the program would not be sustainable, and Hawaii’s beneficiaries would lose a very valuable service.

Interested in helping out your kupuna?  Here's some ways you can help as a Hawaii SHIP volunteer:  

1. Information distributor: This role involves transporting and disseminating materials at events, and includes a review of Hawaii SHIP. Volunteers in this role do not engage in discussions that involve personal information or situations.

2. Administrative support: This role involves tasks such as copying, filing, data entry, and placing phone calls to support program coordination. Volunteers in this role do not receive phone calls or field questions from the public.

3. Exhibitor: This role involves staffing information booths at health fairs and exhibits. Volunteers who staff exhibits provide general information about Hawaii SHIP and fields basic questions about Medicare, which may involve a client’s personal information.

4. Presenter: This role involves giving substantive presentations about Medicare and related resources to groups large and small. Volunteers in this role may interact with the audience throughout the presentation and during the Question & Answer time.

5. Counselor: This role involves direct discussion with beneficiaries, caregivers, and/or family members about their individual situations and may include review of personal information such as Medicare Summary Notices, billing statements, and other related financial and health documents.

If you're looking for ways to give back to your community, have an interest in gerontology, public health, health care, or organization send us a message!  We're also looking for volunteers to help us with special projects like data entry, data analysis, etc.

Looking forward to having you as a SHIPMATE!